The following message was shared on May 4, 2022 with the campus community.
To our SLU students –
This week marks the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month – an ever-present and important topic for all campuses, but especially ours. Especially now.
This recognition of this month is met with warmer weather and blooming flowers – the revival of spring – and the opportunity to remind ourselves and each other to seek and celebrate joy. If you are like me, the desire to spend more time outside is something I just can’t ignore.
While it is important to end the semester strong in our studies, we also must care for our bodies, minds and hearts, too. In that spirit, I want to offer some reminders and updates to you. I am including faculty, staff and families in this email so they, too, know about these resources and can offer them to students.
Drop-in counseling during finals
In addition to services provided by the University Counseling Center (UCC), we have also partnered with Behavioral Health Response (BHR) to bring licensed therapists to campus for drop-in spaces inside Pius Library and in different residence halls.
- Meet with a counselor between 6-10 p.m. tonight (May 4) or tomorrow (May 5) night in Pius Library room LL7.
- The schedule for residence hall drop-in spaces is published at slu.edu/wellbeing. (We will update that page with information for drop-in hours and locations next week as soon as it’s finalized.)
The UCC has increased staffing to offer additional appointments through finals. Make an appointment or reach a trained and licensed mental health professional 24/7 by calling 314-977-TALK (8255). Please press "9" for calls after hours to connect with a behavioral health nurse.
Final Wellness Day of the Semester
Be on the lookout for the schedule of events for our final Wellness Day of the semester, scheduled for Tuesday, May 10. We will publish that agenda on slu.edu/wellbeing, as well as the Student Involvement Center’s Instagram. I hear there will be free ice cream…
Mental Health Awareness Month
Talking about mental health shouldn’t be hard, but breaking through decades of stigma is no easy task. Mental Health Awareness Month is a great excuse and opportunity to engage.
Organizations like the JED Foundation, Active Minds offer tools and language that can help you in caring for yourself and for others. I encourage you to follow these accounts and our awesome student orgs that focus on wellness on social media. Repost their tips, drop in on a meeting and take advantage of free resources and training.
Yard signs
Keep an eye out for yard signs going up on north and south campuses next week reminding you that you can and will get through finals with humor, honesty and by caring for each other. We are in this together. The yard signs will have helpful and fun reminders, quotes and memes. Take a selfie with your favorite and tag me on Instagram to be entered to win some SLU swag!
I look forward to talking to you soon, as we close out this academic year together. Your resilience and generosity of spirit as Billikens never ceases to amaze me, and I am so grateful to be part of this amazing community.
Be well,
Sarah Cunningham
Vice President for Student Development
P.S. Don’t forget that group fitness classes at the Simon Recreation Center are free for students through the end of finals!